Kenner Building Sets
Updated February 7, 2010
Kenner Building Sets
|
|
|
|
The Kenner Toy Company made many different types of sets from the late 1950's until well into the 70's. The plastic pieces
resembled steel girders, window panels, roofs and roadways, and allowed young hands to build large structures in a very short time.
Some sets even included water pumps and plastic tanks to make chemical plants, while others featured electric motors and
mechanical parts. Later sets featured powered monorail cars. They were great fun for kids and a blessing to parents who could
watch the little demons disappear into their rooms and emerge only at mealtimes.
I had five of these sets when I was young and spent most of my time converting every bit of desk and shelf space into construction
zones.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul Baker of Milford, CT has graciously allowed us to look into the past and recall what it was like when these sets were new. This picture
shows Paul at 6 years old on Christmas in 1963. He has just received his Double Sky Rail set (#18). All of the other gifts
are now being ignored as his attention is focused
on this single toy.
Paul says that to this day he still reads the manual first!
(With a careful look you can also see several other classic
toys of the time. Flintstone Building Boulders, the original Mousetrap Game,
and an Aurora Slot car racing set.)
|
Click on pic for full size image
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Click on pic for full size image
|
Another Kenner building fan, Bob McGarrah, submitted this picture
of himself at Christmas in 1961 as he begins to investigate his new
Motorized Constructioneer #8 set.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The internet has provided the means for me to share my experience with a new generation who can now escape the Sega and Playstation
world, or help some old geezers like myself share the joys of their childhood with their kids and grandkids.
I endeavor to sell sets that are as complete and in as good repair as possible, so my buyers will not be disappointed or have to look
elsewhere for supplemental parts. Unlike most other sellers, I always give complete descriptions and detailed parts inventories
with the sets I sell. I never use the words "looks complete" or 'did not count" so you can always be assured of exactly what you
are getting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A great site for just about everything you could want to know about these sets is Ed Sterling's
Girder and Panel History and
Girder and Panel Museum.
These pages feature detailed pics and descriptions of all the sets, as well as historical information about Kenner. It's well worth the
visit, and even Kenner's own web page has a link to it.
| | |
Kenner Sets Available
More detailed information and pics are available via the links, but here is
a quick overview the available sets and their features.
Click on the Set to view pics and detailed information.
Listings can change
frequently as new sets become available.
If the set you desire is already sold, you can email
me to
be placed on a waiting list for future sales.
Please feel free to email me with any questions or inquiries about available sets.
Look for the flashing
for recent additions.
----------------------------------------------------------------
NEW!!
Color Planning Guides and Instructions are now available for most all sets!
Please
check the Guides and Instructions section of the
parts page.
----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kenner Building Sets
The Golden Age
|
----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|---|
Girder and Panel Building Sets
|
|
|
|
|
| Set #1 - 115 Parts
| Set #2 - 191 Parts
| Set #3 - 292 Parts
|
(Click on any pic to view the larger image)
|
Girder and Panel sets #1, #2, and #3 were the first come on the market
beginning in 1958. Set #1 contained the least number of parts, #2 had
more, and finally #3 had the most. Early production runs
in 1958 contained girders made of styrene plastic which was rather brittle.
Soon angry parents and frustrated kids were up in arms about breakage
of the small dovetails and pegs. Fortunately, high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
plastic was just becoming available and Kenner began using it to manufacture
all new parts.
The parts in these sets formed the basis for all sets that would follow. Primary
to building were the plastic girders, in both the vertical columns and
horizontal beams, and the large ugly, green masonite bases. For buildings, window and
roof panels covered the outside surfaces (and also added strength). To
dress things up, store signs, flags and flag poles were added.
These sets were the early entries that exposed most kids of the time to
the world of building. American Bricks and Lincoln Logs did not stick together and
Lego would not see entry into the U.S. for nearly another 10 years. Most
of us had a least one of these early sets before advancing on.
| | | |
(Click on any underlined item name for more information and
pictures)
|
|---|
(Click on any underlined item name for more information and
pictures)
|
|---|
Combo Girder and Panel / Bridge and Turnpike Building Sets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Set #7 - 614 Parts
|
(Click on the pic to view the larger image)
|
Next out of the Kenner factory was this combination set that included parts
from both the Girder and Panel and Bridge and Turnpike sets.
By the time this set was produced Kenner was using only the HDPE girders.
No new parts were included, however a new Color Planning Guide
was created for the dual features of the set.
| | |
(Click on any underlined item name for more information and
pictures)
|
|---|
"Constructioneer" Building Sets
|
|
|
|
|
| Set #8 - 666 Part
| Set #9 - 905 Parts
| Set #10 - 134 Parts
|
(Click on any pic to view the larger image)
|
Kenner's next group of sets were the "Constructioneer" editions that added
motors, combination Battery/Switch boxes, elevators, and a
collection of mechanical parts that would add movement and interest to
building. Also new to the sets were a "Motorized" color planning guide
and 8 pages of instructions for all the mechanical parts.
The #8 set had a single motor, battery box, elevator, and single set of
mechanical parts. Early editions of set #8 featured a hinged box
lid, while later editions had a box with a removable lid.
These more uncommon sets had 8 added parts: yellow guides that kept
the elevator moving smoothly.
The #8 was the biggest seller of all the Kenner
sets ever made. Today hundreds, if not thousands, of them can still be
found. (Of course, finding them complete and in good working order is another story...)
Set #9 was the "Double Constructioneer" set, and it
included two motors, battery boxes, elevators, and double sets of all
the mechanical parts. Exclusive to the #9 set were 2 small strings of 3
colored electric lights.
Set #10 was a small add-on which contained just the new parts, a few extra
4" x 4" bases and some extra braces. It was marketed as a way to make
your earlier sets (especially the #7) equivalent to a #8. It included
the color Motorized planning guide, the 8 pages of instructions, and a special
two-color instruction sheet just for the set. Not many were
sold and the set is a rare find today.
With these sets building for a child could really become something special.
Grand plans for drawbridges, cable cars, and buildings with working elevators
are shown in the planning guide. But on the neagative side, it was very easy
for a child to let a motor stay on a little too long and pull apart a
structure that may have taken a long time to build. This was also about
the time that, in my humble opinion, quality control at Kenner began
to wane. The "conveyor belt" that was included as one of the mechanical
parts was really just a roll of thin yellow plastic tape and so had a very
limited lifespan.
| | | |
(Click on any underlined item name for more information and
pictures)
|
|---|
"Hydro Dynamics" Building Sets
|
|
|
|
| Set #11 - 442 Parts
| Set #12 - 645 Parts
|
(Click on any pic to view the larger image)
|
This is where the Kenner sets took a great turn. Two Hydro Dynamic
sets were introduced that included a plethora of clear plastic
tanks, tubes, gadgets, and a pump that would move colored water
through them all. Round tank sections fitted togther with plastic
gaskets, so the size and orientation of the tanks could be
changed. The building base was now made of grey plastic with raised
sides to catch spilled water,
and held the pump inside a small reservoir, as well as the battery
compartment and on/off switch. For connecting everything together
a collection of green pipe fittings and valves were included.
To produce the colored water small vegetable dye color tablets
were added. The sets also had a new Color Planning guide
and 4 pages of instructions for all the new parts. New
signs came along with a "chemical" theme; "CONTROL VALUE", "DANGER KEEP OUT",
"REACTOR #1" and many others.
The #11 set had a single pump and a single set of
tanks and pipe parts.
Set #12 was the "Double Hydro Dynamic" set with two pumps and twice
of just about all of the tanks and pipe parts. It also featured a float switch
that could be used to control one of the pumps, and a single string of
the 3 electric lights found in the #9 set.
What a great time we had with these sets! Building with these things and
then being able to see the colored water move around all of the structure.
Unfortunately these sets were not without their problems.....
The primary issue was the brittle nature of the gray base. The weight of the 2
"D" batteries it held could cause the base to break if it was not handled
very carefully. A #12 base held 2 batteries at either end and the
slighest wrong move would break it across the middle.
The next most common problem was the small base of the pump motor housing. Four
slender pieces of plastic held it in place and having them snap was not
difficult.
The plastic tanks had small "feet" and "toes" (tabs) that were not
difficult to break. Even so, a lot of toes could be lost and still
have the tanks usable.
Finally, the neat little "turbine" tank had clips to hang on a beam girder,
and the "tilt scale" had thin stop pins to prevent movement beyond its
working limits. These parts were poorly designed and seldom escaped
damage.
With the advent of Super Glue, most of these breaks can now be repaired. Such
was not the case in the early 60's.
From the parent's point of view the main problem was the color tablets.
Can you say "Non-washable"? Anything that came in contact with them
would carry the evidence of the encounter forever. Paper, clothes,
furniture, you name it. In most cases the sets were exiled to the
garage or backyard after the first toxic spill.
| | | |
(Click on any underlined item name for more information and
pictures)
|
|---|
(Click on any underlined item name for more information and
pictures)
|
|---|
"Sky Rail" Building Sets
|
|
|
|
| Set #17 - 476 Parts
| Set #18 - 740 Parts
|
(Click on any pic to view the larger image)
|
The 1962 World's Fair in Seattle was one of the big news stories of the year and television
broadcast countless images of the Space Needle and of course, the elevated Monorail.
Kenner seized the craze and brought us the "Sky Rail" editions of the the building sets. We
were ready to jump into the future with these space-age looking
editions!
Unlike the Seattle version, these sets had cars that moved below the rails.
Battery packs with on-board reversible switches provided power. New parts included
the Sky Cars (with lights in their nose cones), Battery/Switch boxes, the metal rails,
hooks to hold the rails, "Heliport" pads and a unique set of signs.
These sets saw Kenner's first color change of the plastic
girders and braces. This time around they were yellow.
The window panels changed
to new colors as well: yellow borders with blue or orange interiors.
Some panels had special cuts to allow for the rail hooks. A new roof panel
features a single dome with a slot on the center to fit a vertical or stub girder.
Combined with the newly added radar dishes (in two sizes) this allowed creation of a
radar scanners for a futuristic look. The masonite bases have changed to a
new ugly green being bright and almost fluorescent.
Set #17 set had a single Sky Car either red or blue, Battery box and Heliport.
Set #18 contained two Sky Cars and Battery boxes, and two
heliports. It also added "Sky Gates" to add a challange
when racing the cars. While the box artwork shows one car of each color,
I have seen some sets that contain 2 blue cars.
But these sets had a major design flaw. The tiny plastic pins in the
switch mechanism were extremely weak and could not withstand stress
of kids reefing on them during normal play. The pins would break
rendering the box useless.
(Side note - I have perfected the
fix
for this. Click
here
to learn more.)
For some reason that I cannot fathom, the red plastic seems to have
been stronger than the blue. I see a lot fewer damaged red switches.
| | | |
(Click on any underlined item name for more information and
pictures)
|
|---|
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kenner Building Sets
Twilight of the Golden Age
|
----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|---|
"Modern-as-Tomorrow" Building Sets
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Set #21 - 145 Parts
| Set #22 - 246 Parts
| Set #23 - 380 Parts
| Set #23C - 381 Parts
|
(Click on any pic to view the larger image)
|
The mid 1960's have arrived and Kenner updates the classic building set series
by introducing new editions of the Girder and Panel sets.
Modern buildings are not just square boxes, so Kenner created new window
and roof panels to add some curves. Also new were a single dome roof
panel (much like the one in the Sky Rail sets, sans the girder slot), and new
store signs and flags. New window and door panels in two shades of blue and red
of various patterns replaced the old orignals. Some clear acetate window
panels were added to allow seeing inside the buildings, and
so new interior panels were added depicting bare walls, desks, and doors.
New sleeves that go over 2 vertical girders create dramatic pillars for building
entrances.
This generation of color changes has the griders becoming gray. The roof panels
are now a shade of brown and the masonite bases are off-white.
Set #21 was sold in a pressed paper "can" and had a Color Planing Guide exclusive
to the set.
Set #22 also came in a can and included a Color Planning Book for it and set #23.
Set #23 was the largest and came in the more traditional flat, lift-top box.
It also had some extra signs not found in the smaller sets.
A late addition was set #23C. It was identical to the #23 set, except that it came in a vertical rectangular
box with a plastic lid. This box would not accomodate the large masonite base,
so it was replaced with 2 bases that equaled the orignal size when placed
side by side. Consequently, the Planning Guide had to be modified slightly to
show the division in its floorplan diagrams.
| | | |
(Click on any underlined item name for more information and
pictures)
|
|---|
"Freeway USA" Building Sets
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Set #24 - 254 Parts
| Set #25 - 385 Parts
| Set #26 - 739 Parts
| Set #26C - 739 Parts
|
(Click on any pic to view the larger image)
|
Just as with the original 50's sets, Kenner followed up the new Girder and Panel sets
with a new generation of Bridge and Turnpike editions, calling them "Freeway USA".
The girders and braces are back to being colored red, and a new "half" horizontal
girder is introduced. Gone are the 2 lane
road sections that were so easily broken, and they are replaced by new
single lane versions that break even more easily! There are new "off-ramp"
pieces as well, and a new set of signs. Another new feature is small
"road anchors" that hold road sections down without using a stub girder.
Kenner gets a bit creative and adds highway fixtures - lamp posts,
sign posts, traffic signals and toll booths.
The base pieces have become much smaller and are now thin strips with 2 or 3 mounting holes.
Two versions of the bases were made, masonite in the same fluorescent green as the Sky Rail sets,
and metal that were a dark green.
Set #24 and #25 came in the pressed paper can.
Set #26 was the largest and came in the more traditional flat, lift-top box.
Along the with regular yellow string for suspension bridges, Kenner added some heavier red string for
larger structures and "suspension ties" for connecting the two string types.
The #26C was identical to the #26 set, except that it came in a vertical rectangular
box with a plastic lid. It is a rare find today.
| | | |
(Click on any underlined item name for more information and pictures)
|
|---|
(Click on any underlined item name for more information and
pictures)
|
|---|
(Click on any underlined item name for more information and
pictures)
|
|---|
(Click on any underlined item name for more information and pictures)
|
|---|
----------------------------------------------------------------
Kenner Building Sets
The General Mills Years
|
----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|---|
|
Currently Available Sets
|
| Set
|
| Overall Set
Condition
| Number of
Original Pieces
| Number of
Actual Pieces
| Percent
Complete
| Box
Condition
| Price
|
World Famous Buildings
|
| VG
| 752
| 752
| 100%
| VG
| $135
Sold
| |
(Click on any underlined item name for more information and
pictures)
|
|---|
Abbreviations: E = Excellent, VG = Very Good, G = Good
All items are subject to prior sale
Links to other Girder and Panel Sites
Copyright © 2010
Jeff Popp
All Rights Reserved
Web page contents and images may not be
copied or reproduced by any means without
expressed written permission.
www.girderandpanel.net
Copyright © 2000
Jeff Popp
